Just days after the end of the 2023 LoL World Championship, LCK’s so-called “stove league” has kicked off, with several world-class players released into free agency.
It’s already been an insane year with the LCS and LEC’s off-season seeing many rookies get their first chance, veterans left off of teams last minute, and the two teams exiting the LCS and its franchised league.
However, this off-season period has given way to an equally chaotic time in the LCK as official accounts have begun announcing which players have opted not to renew their contracts.
Between just Gen.G and DPlus KIA alone, some of the world’s best players are up for grabs. There’s a long off-season ahead of us yet.
LCK roster shuffle begins as world champions enter free agency
With how strong of a region Korea is, it’s no surprise that several world title holders are being shuffled between teams.
For instance, DPlus KIA have already announced that they’re terminating the contracts of Canna, Canyon, and Deft. Though they plan to retain ShowMaker at this time, that’s two of three world champion players on the roster up for grabs along with Canna.
[Announcement: Contract Termination]Dplus KIA와 'Canna' 김창동 'Canyon' 김건부, 'Deft' 김혁규 선수와의 계약이 종료되었습니다.Dplus KIA는 FA를 선택한 선수들의 결정을 존중하며 함께하는 동안 희망과 열정으로 가득 차 하나가 되었던 소중한 순간들을 모두 잊지 않겠습니다.Dplus KIA는… pic.twitter.com/VJ4F6u3dKc
— Dplus KIA (@DplusKIA) November 21, 2023
According to DPlus KIA, all of these players have chosen free agency and decided to let their contracts expire. This leaves a 2020 and 2022 world champion up for grabs by any team who’s keen.
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Additionally, DRX have let go of BeryL, making the Worlds 2022-winning bot lane eligible to be reunited if an LCK team chose to do so.
DRX와 ‘BeryL’ 조건희 선수의 계약이 종료되었습니다.지난 2년간 DRX와 즐거운 도전을 함께해 주었던, 그리고 그 도전을 가장 찬란한 순간으로 만들어 주었던 조건희 선수에게 감사드립니다. 조건희 선수가 새롭게 맞이할 도전을 진심으로 응원하며, 지금까지 걸어온 길처럼 앞으로 펼쳐질 미래에도… pic.twitter.com/FHQvUgwRmP
— DRX (@DRXGlobal) November 21, 2023
And, though Gen.G’s roster doesn’t contain any world champion players, most of the players on the team have gotten pretty close. Only Peyz remains as Chovy, Doran, Peanut, and Delight have all decided not to renew.
As if that wasn’t enough, Kingen has also opted to leave Hanwha Life Esports. However, HLE have chosen to keep both Viper and Zeka to maintain some of that star power on their team despite 2023 shortcomings on the roster.
안녕하세요. 한화생명e스포츠입니다. 금일부로 HLE 1군 'Kingen' 황성훈, 'Life'김정민 그리고 2군 'Guwon' 구관모, 'Roamer' 조우진, 'Duro' 주민규 선수와의 계약이 종료되었음을 알려드립니다. 그리고 2군 코치 'Key' 김한기 코치와 전력분석유닛장 'Polt' 최성훈과의 계약도 종료됐으며, HLE… pic.twitter.com/7mTLbC4BnZ
— Hanwha Life Esports (@HLEofficial) November 21, 2023
That said, Hanwha Life Esports didn’t exactly have an easy go of things in 2023 considering their jungler got suspended in the middle of the split due to sexual misconduct. They’ll surely be looking to rebuild the team in order to get the results they’re looking for, though it seems their vision of the future didn’t involve Kingen.
It also remains to be seen if T1 retains its roster. While the organization wants to retain its players, other teams will surely be vying to get a piece of the Worlds 2023-winning pie.